49ers news: New rule changes for practice squads, injured reserve

The 49ers are likely to be impacted by recent changes of NFL rules for both the practice squad and injured reserve heading into 2022.

San Francisco 49ers fans noticed a fairly dramatic shift of urgent necessity entering the pandemic-impacted 2020 season two years ago, one which ultimately required the upping of practice squad roster spots and a change-up with regards to how injured lists were managed.

You might recall the emergency alterations two offseasons ago not only increased the size of practice squads but also opened up the door for veteran players who otherwise wouldn’t have been eligible.

Additionally, teams could have an unlimited amount of players returning off injured reserve after just three games, what was essentially considered “short-term” IR.

A lot of those changes were notably popular. They’ll stick around heading into 2022 in some fashion, but there are some alterations both the Niners and the rest of the league will have to manage.

New NFL rules changes on practice squad, injured reserve for 2022

With the pandemic becoming less and less a threat to the league, things will change slightly heading into the upcoming season.

Practice squads will still be at a maximum of 16 players, and teams like San Francisco can keep a total of six veterans (players with more than two accrued seasons) as broken down by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

One of the changes now, however, is a practice squad player can be elevated to the game-day roster three times during the regular season without taking a spot on the 53-man roster, whereas this could happen only twice per year during the previous two seasons.

As far as the IR list is concerned, it’ll now last a minimum of four weeks instead of the previous two years’ three games. And instead of unlimited players who could be designated for this kind of return, the max number teams can promote off IR lists is set for eight, broken down by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:

How new NFL rules may impact 49ers in 2022

A year ago, the 49ers used IR designations on players for a total of 169 game days (one player being on IR for one game counts as a single game day). Nine players ultimately came off IR in one capacity or another during the regular season, so the new rule changes would have affected head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad in a moderate way in 2021 had they been in effect then.

And while last year’s Niners squad suffered nowhere near the sheer amount of injuries it dealt with in 2020, the 2021 totals still weren’t great.

Like any other team, San Francisco might look to stash some starting-caliber veterans on its practice squad to help account for this, although the longstanding rules of other teams being able to sign players off other teams’ practice squads, so long as they’re inked to the 53-man roster, would still apply.

Typically, practice squad players accept these new deals, as 53-man roster payouts are significantly higher than a practice squad paycheck.

If the 49ers end up staying relatively healthy for the bulk of 2022, though, fans may not notice much of a difference at all. At least that’s the hope.